Gregg Berhalter was hired Sunday to coach the U.S. men's national team, making him the first person to run the team after playing for the Americans at the World Cup.
Berhalter, who spent the past five seasons as coach of Major League Soccer's Columbus Crew, represents a generational change for an American team staggered by its failure to reach this year's World Cup after seven straight appearances at soccer's showcase.
A native of Englewood, New Jersey, Berhalter grew up in Tenafly and played alongside future U.S. captain Claudio Reyna at Saint Benedict's Prep in Newark.
Berhalter's Columbus teams succeeded despite one of the league's lowest payrolls.